Direct thermostatic cut-off mechanism



July 27 1926. 1,593,764

1 L. HILL DIRECT THERMOSTATIC CUTOFF MECHANISM Filed NOV. 14. 1925 OOOO EOOO INVENTOR w Lou/,5 HILL 15 LJa-LG FM H4 ATTORNEY Patented July 27, 1926.

UNITED STATES LOUIS HILL, 0] AKRON, OHIO.

DIRECT THERMOSTATIC CUT-OFF MECHANISM.

Application med November 14, was. Serial-No. 674,629.

My invention relates to direct thermostatic gas cut-off mechanisms, my more particular purpose being to provide a very simple device of this kind, adapted for use upon ordinary gas burners, and in wh1ch a cut-01f valve, through which gas 1s supplied to the burner, is 0 erated by a controlling member heated by tlie burner and having the double function of a thermostatic bar and a closure spring; so that the flow of gas to the burner is cut off by the spring action of said controlling member, due to the change of form thereof, whenever by the accldentalextinguishment of the burner flame, the said controlling member acquires a temperature low enough for this purpose. 7

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout all of the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my device, showing one of the parts as partly broken away.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism, certain parts being shown as broken away.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view similar to the left hand portion of Figure 2, but showing the cut-off valve and movable parts immediately associated therewith, as they appear when the flow of gas as controlled by them is out off.

A gas burner appears at 4, and connected with it is a mixing tube 5. Extending into the mixing tube, in the usual manner, for the purpose of delivering gas to the burner is a jet pipe 6.

A hand valve appears at 7 and may be used to: control the supply of gas into the jet pipe. This hand valve is provided with a revoluble valve plug 8 and a handle 9 for use in turning the latter. The valve plug is provided with a passage 10, extending diametrically through it and adapted to be brought into and out of registry with the axial passage 11 of the jet pipe 6.

The jet pipe is provided with a valve plug 12, having a passage 13 extending diametrically through it, and so arranged that by rocking the valve plug 12 the passage 13 is brought into and out of registry with the passage 11.

Mounted rigidly upon the valve plug 12 is an arm 14, whereby it is actuate The valve plug 12 and parts immediatel associated therewith constitute a cut-o valve. Located above the jet pipe 6 and the mixing tube 5 is a sliding bar 15, provided with a pivot pin 16, which extends loosely through the slot 17 so as to allow a little lost motion as between the arm 14 and the sliding rod 15. The sliding bar 15 extends through and is supported by a bearing 18, the latter being mounted upon and extending up from the mixing tube 5. The sliding bar carries a pair of stop pins 19 and 20, for limiting its travel, these pins being adapted to engage opposite sides of the bearing 18.

The sliding bar 15 is further provided with an upturned portion 21 serving as a thumb piece, to be engaged by the thumb of the operator and drawn to the left, into the position indicated for it in Figure 2, as hereinafter more fully described.

A controlling member 22, having a general arcuate form, is at one of its ends connected with the sliding bar 15, by a pivotal connection 23, as shown more particularly in Figure 1. The controlling member 22 is rigidly mounted upon the lug 24, or analogous support carried by the burner 4, and is held in position by a rivet 25 or equivalent fastening. By this arrangement the controlling 'member is supported rigidly at one of its ends, but is otherwise free except for .its connection with the sliding bar. The

controlling element 22 is essentially a thermostatic bar, having a function as a leaf spring, and so proportioned that, in acting as a leaf spring, it can readily turn the valve plug in a clockwise direction according to Figure 2, so as to shift the valve plug from the position indicated for it in Figure 2 to the one indicated for it in Figure 3and thus cutting off the flow of gas through the jet pipe.

When no gas is flowing and the burner is cold, the valve plug 12 and movable parts immediately associated therewith occupy the positions indicated for them in Figure 3.

hen, however, the gas is flowing and the burner is heated and in action, the valve 12 and movable parts immediately associated therewith appear as indicated in Figure 2. Under the conditions just described the operator can grasp the handle 9, and by turning it can cut oil the flow of gas through the valve 7, or regulate the flow, as described.

The operation of my device may be readily understood from the foregoing. description.

Suppose, at the start, that the burner is cold because no as is flowing, and that the valve plug 12 an various movable parts immediately associated therewith appear in the positions indicated for them in Figure 3, and that the handle 9 of the valve 7 occupies the position indicated for it in this figure.

The operator places a thumb upon the thumb p1ece 21, and by drawing it to the left accordin to Figure 3, brings the sliding bar 15 and various parts actuating thereb into the positions indicated for them in F igure 2. -This means that the valve plug 12 now permits the gas to flow through it to the burner.

The operator, still holding the thumb piece 21, now lights the gas at the burner. As the heat from the burner raises the temperature of the thermostatic bar 22, this bar ceases for the moment to act'as a spring, but owing to its temporary distortion from the heat it tends to maintain the sliding bar 15 in its extreme position to the left as indicated in Figures 1 and 2.

The opcrators thumb is now removed from the thumb piece 21. The valve plug 7 and various movable parts immediately associated with the valve plug continue to retain the positions just described for them, however, so long as the burner continues in action and even while the flow of gas is be ing controlled, at least within reasonable limits, through the agency of the valve 7. That is to say, the operator can grasp the handle 9 and move it back and forth within reasonable bounds in order to regulate and control the flow of gas to the burner, but without causing the thermostatic bar to cut off the flow of gas through the other valve.

If, however, owing to any accidental cause, such as a sudden gust of wind, the burner flame is extinguished while the gas is left still flowing to the burner, the cooling of the thermostatic bar causes the latter to move.

from the position indicated for it by full lines in Figure 1 to the position indicated for it by dotted lines in the said figure. The thermostatic bar, owing to its change in form due to its cooling, now acts like a leaf springunder tension, and draws the sliding bar 15 to the right according to Figures 1 and 2, so as to rock the valve 12 in a clockwise direction according to Fi ure 2, and cut oil the flow of gas as above escribed The various parts above discussed are located closely together and so conveniently arranged that the operator can readily asp and actuate the handle 9 with one han say the left, and with the thumb of the same hand can engage the thumb piece 21 and thus actuate the )arts controllable thereby.

I do not limit myself to the precise mechanism shown, as variations may be made therein without departing from my invention, the scope of which is commensurate with my claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent is as follows:

1. In a device of the character described the combination, with a gas burner and a jet pipe for delivering gas into said gas burner, of a valve mounted upon said jet pipe for the purpose of automatically cutting ofi' the flow of gas therethrough, an arm connected with said valve for the purpose of actuating the same, a sliding bar connected with said arm for the purpose of actuating said arm, a bearing mounted upon said jet pipe and through which said sliding bar extends, and .a controlling member connected with said sliding bar for the purpose of actuating the same, said controllin member being mounted adjacent said gas urner so as to be heated thereby while said gas burner is in action, said controlling member having the double function of a thermostatic bar and a leaf spring, for the purpose of actuating said sliding bar.

2. In a device of the character described the combination with a mixing tube and a burner, of a jetvpipe leading into said mixing tube for the purpose of suppl ing gas throughsaid mixing tube to said urner, a valve mounted u on said jet pipe for opening and closing t e same, an arm connected with said valve for the purpose of actuating said valve in order to cut off the flow of said gas to said mixing tube, a sliding bar connected with said arm for the purpose of actuatin said arm, said sliding bar being provide with a thumb piece to enable said sliding bar to be moved by hand in order to cause said arm to opensaid valve, a bearing mounted upon said mixing tube and through which said sliding bar extends, a pair of stop pins carried by said sliding bar and located upon opposite sides of said bearing for limiting the travel of said sliding bar. and a controlling member connected with said sliding bar and located adjacent said burner in order to be heated thereby while said burner is in action, said controlling member having the double function of a thermostatic bar and a leaf spring.

Signed at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, this 12th day of November 1923. L

LOUIS HILL. 

